Mapping of the factor Xa binding site on factor Va by site-directed mutagenesis

Activated coagulation factor V functions as a cofactor to factor Xa in the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. Based on the introduction of extra carbohydrate side chains in recombinant factor V, we recently proposed several regions in factor Va to be important for factor Xa binding. To further define which residues are important for factor Xa binding, we prepared fifteen recombinant factor V variants in which clusters of charged amino acid residues were mutated, mainly to alanines. The factor V variants were expressed in COS-1 cells, and their functional properties evaluated in a prothrombinase-based assay, as well as in a direct binding test. Four of the factor V variants, 501A/510A/511D, 501A/510A/511D/513A, 513A/577A/578A, and 501A/510A/511D/513A/577A/578A exhibited markedly reduced factor Xa-cofactor activity tested in the prothrombinase assay, and reduced binding affinity as judged by the direct binding assay. These factor Va variants were normally cleaved at Arg-506 by activated protein C, and the interaction between the factor Xa-factor Va complex and prothrombin was unaffected by the introduced mutations. Based on the integration of all available data, we propose a key factor Xa binding surface to be centered on Arg-501, Arg-510, Ala-511, Asp-513, Asp-577, and Asp-578 in the factor Va A2 domain. These residues form an elongated charged factor Xa binding cluster on the factor Va surface.     

Role of CCP2 of the C4b-binding protein beta-chain in protein S binding evaluated by mutagenesis and monoclonal antibodies.

Complement regulator C4b-binding protein (C4BP) and the anticoagulant vitamin K-dependent protein S form a high affinity complex in human plasma. C4BP is composed of seven alpha-chains and a unique beta-chain, each chain comprising repeating complement control protein (CCP) modules. The binding site for protein S mainly involves the first of the three beta-chain CCPs (CCP1). However, recently it has been suggested that CCP2 of the beta-chain also contributes to the binding of protein S. To elucidate the structural background for the involvement of CCP2 in the protein S binding, several recombinant beta-chain CCP1-2 variants having mutations in CCP2 were expressed and tested for protein S binding. Mutations were chosen based on analysis of a homology model of the beta-chain and included R60A/R101A, D66A, L105A, F114A/I116A and H108A. All mutant proteins bound equally well as recombinant wild type to protein S. Several monoclonal antibodies against the beta-chain CCP2 were raised and their influence on protein S binding characterized. Taken together, the results suggest that the role of CCP2 in protein S binding is to orient and stabilize CCP1 rather than to be directly part of the binding site.     

Dynamics of Competition in Populations of Carrot (Daucus carota)

Populations of carrot (Daucus carota) were raised over a widerange of densities (79–5763 plants m^-2) to examine thedynamics of competition in terms of yield–density relationshipsand size variability, and to investigate the effects of nutrientsupply on competition. While the relationship between shootyield and density was asymptotic, the relationship between rootand total yield and density tended to be parabolic. For a giventime and density series the relationship between yield per unitarea and density could best be described by the model: y=w_mD_(1+aD)^b wherey is the yield per unit area,D is density,w_m, a andb arefitted parameters. The parametersw_m anda increased over timebut nutrient availability affected onlyw_m. An extension of thebasic yield-density model is proposed to describe the dynamicsof the yield–density relationship over time: y=kD_{[1+cexp(-rt)]{1+}     

低温驯化对布氏田鼠小肠黏膜结构和黏膜免疫相关细胞的影响

环境温度的变化影响野生啮齿动物的消化道形态与功能。小肠是吸收营养成分的主要部位,其结构和功能具有可塑性。为了解小肠黏膜的结构和功能对环境温度变化的响应机制,以布氏田鼠为研究对象,比较了低温组和常温组动物小肠黏膜的组织结构和小肠黏膜免疫相关细胞的数目。结果显示：（1）低温组布氏田鼠的十二指肠、空肠和回肠的绒毛长度及绒毛长度与隐窝深度的比值均高于对照组;（2）低温驯化使布氏田鼠小肠上皮内淋巴细胞的数量增加;（3）低温驯化使布氏田鼠十二指肠、空肠和回肠的杯状细胞数量均显著增加。结果表明,在低温环境下布氏田鼠的小肠黏膜结构和免疫细胞的数量发生了可塑性变化,这可能与低温环境下的高能量需求和免疫功能的变化有关。     

小脑间位核和顶核对下丘脑外侧区神经元电活动的影响

电刺激猫小脑问位核和顶核可以影响下丘脑外侧区神经元的电活动,其中有一些神经元是葡萄糖敏感神经元.这一结果揭示小脑不仅具有经典的躯体运动调节功能,同时也可以通过小脑-下丘脑通路参与机体非躯体活动的调节.     

Structural investigation of C4b-binding protein by molecular modeling: Localization of putative binding sites

C4b-binding protein (C4BP) contributes to the regulation of the classical pathway of the complement system and plays an important role in blood coagulation. The main human C4BP isoform is composed of one β-chain and seven α-chains essentially built from three and eight complement control protein (CCP) modules, respectively, followed by a nonrepeat carboxy-terminal region involved in polymerization of the chains. C4BP is known to interact with heparin, C4b, complement factor I, serum amyloid P component, streptococcal Arp and Sir proteins, and factor VIII/VIIIa via its α-chains and with protein S through its β-chain. The principal aim of the present study was to localize regions of C4BP involved in the interaction with C4b, Arp, and heparin. For this purpose, a computer model of the 8 CCP modules of C4BP α-chain was constructed, taking into account data from previous electron microscopy (EM) studies. This structure was investigated in the context of known and/or new experimental data. Analysis of the α-chain model, together with monoclonal antibody studies and heparin binding experiments, suggests that a patch of positively charged residues, at the interface between the first and second CCP modules, plays an important role in the interaction between C4BP and C4b/Arp/Sir/heparin. Putative binding sites, secondary-structure prediction for the central core, and an overall reevaluation of the size of the C4BP molecule are also presented. An understanding of these intermolecular interactions should contribute to the rational design of potential therapeutic agents aiming at interfering specifically some of these protein–protein interactions. Proteins 31:391–405, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.